Tree-foot.



No. 7H,025. Patented 001.14, I902.

A. D. TYLER, JR.

TREE FUDT.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1899.)

(Ila llodel.)

N W H ABEL D. TYLER, JR., OF

BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TREE-FOOT.

s'PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

711,025, dated October 14:, 1902.

Application filed October 2, 1899. Serial No. 732,293. -(N0 model.)

"1'11 (1/37 whom it may concern:

Be it known that LABEL D. TYLER, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTree-Feet, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of my new treefoot, and Fig. 2 is asectional plan view taken at line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and looking down.

The object of my invention is to produce and my invention comprises atree -fo0t-, shoe-form, or last which will not only short-en when itsheel part is swung upward and forward, but which will also lengthen orshorten in the direction of the length of the last when the bottoms ofthe fore part and heel part are in alinement. Such a foot, form, or lastwill fit 'two or more sizes of foot-gear; and my invention, most broadlyconsidered, consists in the combination hereinafter'described andclaimed.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention, A is thefore part, and B the heel part, of one form of transversely-dividedlast. The fore part and heel part are hinged together in this preferredform by two parallel hinges D D, the opposite tangs or leaves of whichare mounted in the opposite sockets Ct and b, in opposed end walls ofthe fore part and heel part, respectively. The hinges have anendwise-sliding motion in one or the other of the parts of the foot--inthis instance in the pockets Ct a of the fore part, wherein they areconfined by the pins a through slots 61 of the hinge-tangs. In thisinstance the hinge-tangs in the heel part are firmly secured in place bythe pins (1. The hinges are in substantial parallelism with the bottomof the fore part and heel part when the latter are in alinement, and thepintles d of the hinges extend crosswise of the last, be tipped upwardlyso that the fore part may and downwardly (within the limits of theirmovements) in relationto the heel part or the heel part be tippedupwardly and forwardly in relation to the fore part in order to shortenthe foot or last for removal of the same from the boot or shoe. Theupward movements of the heel part and fore part one in relation toanother depend upon the width or extent of the usual V-shaped openingabove the hinging mechanism. The downward or bottomward movements ofsaid parts one in relation to another are limited by abutment of onehinge member upon the other when the fore part and heel part are inalinement. To hold the fore part and heel part at desired distancesapart when in working position, I interpose a spring F, preferably aspiral spring, between the opposed ends of the fore part and heel partin the horizontal plane of the hinging mechanism. The ends of the springare socketed at f and f of the fore part and heel part, respectively,the end portions of the spring bending transversely when the fore partor heel part is lifted and exerting its force lengthwise to keep thefore part and heel partat a distance apart.

Any suitable hinge or hinge mechanism and any suitable distendingmechanism or device maybe used without departure from my invention.

That I claim is- The combination of a fore part; a heel part; atransversely-bending hinging device connecting said parts; and a springmounted between said parts and socketed at one end in the fore part andat the other end in the heel part,and bending transversely and yieldinglengthwise.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABEL D. TYLER, JR.

Witnesses:

EDWARD S. BEACH, E. A. ALLEN.

